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The Tulsa Beacon

 

Legislative Update

Stitt orders the streamlining of drivers’ license renewals

Tulsa Beacon

In the wake of long lines and mandatory appointments for drivers’ licenses and renewals, Gov. Kevin Stitt has issued an executive order to the Department of Public Safety to “expedite renewals or replacements of valid driver licenses and identification.” The order will waive restrictions on tag agents to make it easier to obtain a driver’s…

More driver license sites

Tulsa Beacon

A bill that will increase the number of authorized driver testing exam locations has been presented in the House of Representatives. Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, is the author of House Bill 2465, which would allow certain locations, approved by the Department of Public Safety (DPS), to be proctors for the written examination for applicants for…

Churches are ‘essential’

Tulsa Beacon

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act prohibiting governmental declaration of religious institutions as nonessential.  Sen. David Bullard is the principal Senate author of Senate Bill 368. The U.S. Constitution guarantees, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of…

Protection from riots

Tulsa Beacon

The Senate Public Safety Committee has approved Senate Bill 560, which would provide criminal and civil protections for drivers who feel threatened by riots or crowds of people circling a vehicle. Authored by Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, the measure would protect a person who makes a reasonable effort to escape from a crowd unlawfully…

Stop traffic ticket quotas

Tulsa Beacon

The Senate General Government Committee approved a bill that would prevent any political subdivision or agency of the state from establishing a formal or informal plan to evaluate, promote, compensate or discipline an officer based on the number of tickets or citations issued. Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, authored Senate Bill 346 and said these…

Blue Lives Matter signs

Tulsa Beacon

The full Senate has given its approval to a measure codifying the authority for cities and towns to adopt ordinances enabling the painting of blue lines and the posting of signage in support of law enforcement.  “This legislation simply clarifies that these displays are appropriate, permissible, and it also reflects the Senate’s support for law…

Sgt. Craig Johnson Act

Tulsa Beacon

The House Judiciary – Criminal Committee passed the Sgt. Craig Johnson Metal Theft Act. House Bill 1001 is named after Johnson, a Tulsa Police officer who had served as the lead on a statewide coalition developing this legislation before he was killed in a shooting while on duty last June. HB 1001 seeks to clarify…

Assisting homeless youth

Tulsa Beacon

HB 1739,  a bill that would help homeless youth get access to housing, medical care, education and other services, passed the House Children, Youth and Family Services Committee with a vote of 5-0. House Bill 1739 creates the Connecting Futures Act, which would allow the Department of Human Services to create a pilot program with…

Tax help for rural doctors

Tulsa Beacon

House Speaker Pro Tempore Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa, got passage of a bill that would provide income tax credits for doctors practicing in rural areas of the state. House Bill 2089 is authored by House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka and Speaker Pro Tempore O’Donnell. The bill would grant up to a $25,000 tax credit for income…

Teacher candidate help

Tulsa Beacon

State Rep. Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle, wrote a bill in committee that will add multi-tiered systems of support to the preparation of teacher candidates for the classroom. House Bill 1773 gives teachers and schools support for struggling students. Included in the legislation is training on literacy – including phonics; an evidence-based approach to mathematics; the application…